Synopsis

For a young woman swept into international adventure, romance can’t be far behind…The 1920s are in full swing when Sadie Loudon leaves her grandfather’s stodgy vicarage, and she dreams of the glamour and excitement she’s seen on the silver screen. But before she even begins work at the storied Grand Russe Hotel, she is ushered into London’s glittering nightlife by a handsome young businessman intent on introducing her to the pleasures available to a Bright Young Thing. Is it a fleeting romance…or something even more intriguing?

Les Drake is on the lookout for Bolsheviks when he encounters sweet, sexy Sadie. A British Secret Intelligence agent, Les has more experience with the seedy underside of the city than with innocent chambermaids, but he can’t deny that Sadie tempts him. Using her as part of his cover seems like a brilliant plan until the danger of his assignment threatens what has suddenly become a love he can’t bear to lose…Praise for Heather Hiestand’s novels

“You’ve got to admire Hiestand’s moxie for setting her latest romance in an era rarely portrayed in today’s historical romances.” –*RT Book Reviews*

“*One Taste of Scandal* is a delicious, multi-layered Victorian treat." —Gina Robinson, author of The Last Honest Seamstress and the Agent Ex series

“A fast read with a different view point than many novels in the genre.” —*Library Journal* on His Wicked Smile

“This is definitely one for the keeper shelf.” —Historical Romance Lover on His Wicked Smile

“A delightful, sexy glimpse into Victorian life and loving with two wonderfully non‑traditional lovers.” —Jessa Slade, author of *Dark Prince's Desire*, on His Wicked Smile

I WANNA BE LOVED BY YOU is the cat’s meow

Sadie Loudon just started work as a chambermaid at the Richmond Inn, just outside of London, when two men crash into her; Les Drake was the second one, in hot pursuit of a Bolshevik labour agitator. Les feels he needs to apologise to the pretty maid for his behaviour, so later on he goes back to the inn and chats her up. The following day is Sadie’s twentieth birthday, and Les invites her to celebrate with some Russian friends of his. Les works for the Secret Intelligence Services, but is undercover as a commercial traveller selling American magazines. At the party, Les knows there will be several matchmakers who will want to pair him off with Russian girls, because Les also pretends to be Russian, which is easy for him, as his grandmother came from that country. So he asks Sadie to pretend to be his wife. Sadie goes along with the subterfuge: Les is handsome, and he seems rather well-off. She dreams of a better life, of London, of movie stars, and he just might be husband material. Things go well, even though Sadie is rather puzzled by the whole evening. Then she finds employment at the Grand Russe Hotel, where and this is where she will find much more excitement than she ever dreamed of!
The 1920s are a period I love and know rather well, and Ms. Hiestand did a phenomenal job at depicting 1925 London. I WANNA BE LOVED BY YOU is exceptionally well researched, and the author’s unparalleled attention to detail takes us back in time, as Russians attempted to infiltrate the English labour unions. I WANNA BE LOVED BY YOU is very fast-paced, and exciting; it was easy to identify with Sadie, as I had the feeling of living the spy story as she did. The romance and the suspense are intrinsically linked, and very deftly so; the romance is quite complicated, but very realistic, and the spy story is fantastic, again because of those period details: think invisible ink, which I had entirely forgotten about! The characters are superbly crafted, the writing is impeccable, the era’s popular expressions and cultural references are invariably accurate; the dialogues are flawless, and the author possesses a perfect grasp of the era’s social and moral codes.
The 1920s are a neglected period in historical romance, and I recommend I WANNA BE LOVED BY YOU to anyone who loves the era, or wants to know about it. I hope Heather Hiestand has a little something in the future for the very intriguing Olga, because there is so much more to tell.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.